Which mystical branch of Muslims rejected the luxurious lifestyle of the Umayyads?

• A. Salafis
• B. Sufis
• C. Shi'a
• D. Mu'tazila

Answer: (B)

Sufism represents a mystical, ascetic strand within Islam that emphasizes personal devotion and closeness to God, often through simplicity and detachment from worldly wealth. Historically, many Sufi thinkers and orders criticized court luxury and operatic displays of wealth, advocating humility and poverty as a path to spiritual purity. This makes Sufis the branch most associated with rejecting the opulent lifestyle linked to the Umayyad regime, which was known for its lavish courts and wealth.

Salafis seek a strict return to early Islamic practices but aren’t defined by a mystic renunciation of wealth. Shi'a focuses on rightful leadership and theological and political issues surrounding the Prophet’s family. Mu'tazila is a rational theological school concerned with questions of divine justice and ethics rather than ascetic mysticism and rejection of royal luxury.